Rushing Record At Stake, So Are Playoff Berths

Cardinal Gibbons` Vince Powell will try to break Broward County`s single- season rushing record tonight against Stranahan in a District 8-3A game at Pompano Beach High.

Powell, who rushed for 367 yards in the Redskins` 48-7 rout of Chaminade last week, needs 80 yards to break the record of 1,459 set by Boyd Anderson tailback Marty Butler in 1985. Powell has gained 1,380 yards in eight games.

Stranahan needs to contain Powell to win -- and it needs the win to remain alive in District 8-3A.

In addition to the game between Stranahan (2-2) and Cardinal Gibbons (0-4), there are key games between Naples High (2-2) and Naples Lely (3-1) tonight and Hallandale (2-2) and Key West (3-1) Saturday at South Broward. The results will bring forth either a single champion or possibly create a five-way tie and a playoff. But Naples has to beat Lely before anyone else can think of a tie.

Lely, the defending district champion, can clinch the title by defeating Naples. Lely`s lone district loss was to Hallandale. The Chargers must defeat Key West to create a tie. If Key West and Naples both win, then Key West would be the champion because it beat Stranahan, Naples and Cardinal Gibbons and lost only to Lely.

``Naturally, we`d like to see it go to the five-way tie, but first we have to get past Cardinal Gibbons,`` Stranahan coach Rick Perry said.

Boyd Anderson (8-0), ranked ninth in the state 5A poll, plays at Western (1-7), while Chaminade (1-7) plays at South Broward (3-5). Taravella (5-3), which has beaten Coconut Creek in all five of their previous games, plays at Creek. Coral Springs (6-2) plays at Plantation (4-4), and Nova (3-5) plays Fort Lauderdale (0-8) at Lockhart Stadium. American Heritage (8-0, 5-0) plays Marathon (7-1, 5-0) in a District 8-1A showdown in Marathon. Westminster Academy travels to Lakeland to meet Evangel Christian.

There are two key games in District 14-4A, one at Deerfield Beach between the Bucks (6-2) and Piper (5-3) and one at Ely between the Tigers (5-3) and Northeast (3-5). The four teams are tied for the district lead with 1-1 records.

A combination of Ely and Deerfield victories would give the district title to Ely. A combination of Deerfield and Northeast wins would give the title to Deerfield Beach. If Piper and Ely win, Piper would win the title. Northeast would earn the playoff berth if it defeats Ely and Piper defeats Deerfield Beach.

South Dade (2-1 in district play) can clinch the 16-4A title with a victory tonight at McArthur. If McArthur (1-1) wins and Hollywood Hills (2-1) defeats Miramar, a possibility of a three-way tie between South Dade, McArthur and Hollywood Hills would still exist.

ZION FALLS IN SEMIFINAL

ST. PETERSBERG -- Zion Lutheran (14-2-2) fell behind by three goals, rallied to within 3-2 on goals by Bobby Raschdorf, but eventually lost 5-3 in overtime to St. Petersburg Keswick Christian (16-1-2) in a state 1A semifinal soccer match. Tallahasee Maclay advanced to the championship game by defeating Lakeland Christian 2-0.